Receive a presentation from the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council. The council would present its mission statement -- "As the voice for the youth of Lawrence, we are committed to the expression and resolution of youth concerns" -- and its three goals: improve the image of youth in the community; assist in the reduction of gangs in the community; and continue oversight of the teen center.

Approve appointment of Vickie R. Randel to the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, as recommended by Mayor John Nalbandian.

Schedule two auctions organized by the Lawrence Police Department. The first, featuring 38 items of found property and 76 bicycles, would be at 10 a.m. Sept. 28 at the old city garage, Fifth and Mississippi streets. The second, featuring about 400 pieces of evidence gathered by police for cases from 1992 to 1994, would be at 10 a.m. Oct. 5 at the Lawrence Enforcement Center, 111 E. 11th. In both cases, viewing would begin at 9 a.m.

Approve an ordinance, on final reading, to rezone 56 acres of land at the Easy Living Mobile Home Park from single-family residential uses to planned residential uses.

Approve an ordinance, on first reading, to give the Garage Door Group a 50 percent tax break on its purchase of equipment. Commissioners endorsed the tax abatement Nov. 1, 1994.

Pass a resolution to borrow an additional $20,000 to finance a $138,319 design contract for Evans Bierly Hutchison and Associates, 1910 Haskell, to design drainage improvements for the area of Second and North Michigan streets. A previous resolution did not authorize enough money to finance the design contract, as negotiated by city staffers and the company.

Agree to rezone 0.84 acre of land from agricultural to office uses on the south side of 31st Street, about 1,200 feet east of Kasold Drive.

Agree to rezone 18.42 acres from single-family residential to residence-duplex uses south and west of the intersection of Clinton Parkway and Wakarusa Drive. The land would not include the section already set aside for a new Miller Mart.

Approve a site plan for a Kansas University Endowment Association headquarters, to be located west of Constant Avenue and north of 19th Street extended on KU's west campus. Although city code would normally require construction of a sidewalk along Constant Avenue, the site plan would not provide for any new sidewalks along the street.

Agree to allow the expansion of an existing non-conforming residential use in an industrial district: additions to a house at 802 Lincoln.

Receive petitions from property owners along Creekwood Drive, who want the city to create a benefit district to finance repairs to Deerfield Creek. Commissioners would ask staffers to prepare a report for city and neighborhood review.

Conduct a public hearing for the proposed vacation of right-of-way generally located in the area of property planned for a $14.2 million community health facility, at Third and Maine streets.

Consider rezoning 4.13 acres -- 180,000 square feet -- bounded by Second, Third, Maine and Alabama streets from multifamily uses to residence-office uses. The rezoning would allow for construction of a new $14.2 million community health facility to contain the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center and Douglas County Visiting Nurses Assn. The project would be financed with revenues collected from sales taxes.

Receive comments and make recommendations for a proposed consolidation of services provided by the Lawrence Fire Department and Douglas County Ambulance Service.

Background

The project is included in the city's master plan for wastewater service. The basin would allow for growth of the city and relieve pressure on sanitary sewer pipes, particularly during periods of heavy rain.

City commissioners offered to buy 28 acres of land from the county to accommodate the project, but county commissioners balked after hearing that the basin would not be covered.

Since then, engineers have met with city and county officials, plus members of the public, to discuss the possible effects of such a basin being located near homes.

County Commissioners Mark Buhler and Louie McElhaney wanted the city to consider putting a lid on the proposed basin, while fellow Commissioner Jim Chappell wanted to the let the city decide.

"We should let the city decide," Chappell said Friday. "They need the land, and we need to sell it to them. It should not be our business to tell them what kind of sewage basin to build, any more than it should be their business to tell us how many water meters to sell in the unincorporated areas."

Bottom line

Lawrence city commissioners will have a chance to decide the location, design and cost for a new 4 million-gallon overflow sewage basin.

Commissioners will receive a report prepared by the city's utilities department and the city's wastewater consultant, Black & Veatch.

The report outlines several options for taking care of excess sewage during periods of heavy rain. Among them:

On county-owned land southeast of 26th Street and Crossgate Drive: open basins ranging from $1.12 million to $1.26 million; covered tanks from $1.18 million to $2.64 million; or buried tanks, for $4.09 million. The nearest home would be 1,100 feet from the basin.

600 feet south of the county-owned land: $1.35 million (open) to $4.33 million (buried). Nearest home: 1,250 feet.

2,000 feet to the south, north of the South Lawrence Trafficway: $1.55 million (open) to $4.53 million (buried). Nearest home: 1,500 feet.

3,000 feet to the south (south of the trafficway): $2.32 million (open) to $5.3 million (buried). Nearest home: 1,350 feet.

5,000 feet south, north of the Wakarusa River: $2.8 million (open) to $5.77 million (buried). Nearest home: 2,250 feet.

7,000 feet south, south of the Wakarusa: $3.59 million (open) to $6.57 million (buried). Nearest home: 1,600 feet.